Q: Do you have an update on the health of Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek? Will they be 100 percent ready for the Boston Red Sox when they start spring training? -- Joe, Waltham, Mass.
PWG -- Varitek reports that he is getting there; he still has some stiffness when he throws a lot, but that's to be expected. Nomar is starting to lift weights after a lot of conditioning but hasn't swung a bat yet. Pedro has been long-tossing and conditioning but has yet to throw fully.

	With World Series co-MVPs Curt Schilling (above) and Randy Johnson, expect the D-Backs to be in the hunt for the October prize again.

Q: Do you think the Arizona Diamondbacks have a prayer of repeating as world champs next year? The only significant loss they've incurred has been Reggie Sanders to the Giants, and they managed to bolster their bullpen with the addition of Mike Myers, who will complement Byung-Hyun Kim, Bret Prinz and Matt Mantei nicely. With really no one in the NL West making any huge moves, do you see them being in line to make another run in next year's postseason? -- Kurt Widdows, Tucson, Ariz.
PWG -- Any team with Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson has a chance, especially if Brian Anderson has a better year and Mantei and Prinz are healthy. There are some serious questions about the offense, although I do think they've got to get Erubiel Durazo in there more regularly.

Q: The Texas Rangers have been dishing out money like crazy and have pulled off a couple of trades. Is there any chance they'll sign Ivan Rodriguez to a contract extension? Pudge is their main man; he deserves a big contract, too. -- Matt Tarello, Farmingdale, N.Y.
PWG -- That's a tough question to answer. My guess is that they'll try, but what we're seeing is that it's actually starting to get difficult for the $15 million-plus players to get signed because there aren't enough teams who can afford them.

Q: In your honest opinion, how do you feel about the Oakland Athletics' chances this year? Have you heard anything about GM Billy Beane leaving? Also, what's your opinion on the way the A's have handled this offseason? -- Matt Fockler, Reno, Nev.
PWG -- Will they be the same team without Jason Giambi's leadership? No, although it will be interesting to see how Eric Chavez steps forward. They will miss Johnny Damon to some extent, although he was hardly a productive leadoff hitter most of the season . But the A's can win 90 games because they have the best rotation in the league -- especially if Mario Ramos turns out to be the real deal -- and if Billy Koch does with pitching coach Rick Peterson what I think he will.

Q: You list three Diamondbacks on your "comebacks to watch" section of your latest Apolitical Blues column. Why didn't you mention Byung-Hyun Kim? -- John Batzer, Laurel, Md.
PWG -- He's not coming back from any injury or bad season. He gave up two famous homers in the World Series, but he's being asked to move back into the setup role, which shouldn't be a major question.

Q: What are the New York Yankees going to do with Orlando Hernandez? Why don't the New York Mets pick him up as a No. 2 or 3 starter? Are the Yankees even willing to deal him? -- Billy, Fairview, N.J.
PWG -- I doubt the Yankees will deal Hernandez to the Mets, especially because of the PR wars it would bring on. GM Brian Cashman has one deal that interests him, but most likely they'll wait until spring training and move him then.

Q: What are the chances of the Kansas City Royals picking up a solid No. 4 hitter to hit behind Mike Sweeney? Will Sweeney struggle without a good hitter behind him in the order? -- Laura Black, Kansas City, Mo.
PWG -- It's unlikely they can do anything dramatic because of their payroll circumstances. Sweeney may get pitched around, which will put some pressure on Michael Tucker, Mark Quinn or whoever hits behind him, but Sweeney is a smart hitter. If Chuck Knoblauch comes back and Carlos Beltran is the player many think, that could be a key for him and give him lots of RBI situations.

Q: Presuming that this will be Scott Rolen's last year with the Philadelphia Phillies, how disappointed should fans be that the team hasn't signed a true No. 1 starter for the rotation? In short, do you think the Phils are just one player away from being one of the top teams in the NL and a World Series contender in 2002? -- Steve Makler, Mount Holly, N.J.
PWG -- What the Phillies have done this winter defies explanation. In 2001 they made great progress, then all they've done this winter is fail to sign or trade Rolen, unless the possible signing of Terry Adams excites you. Granted, they have some terrific young pitching and more on the way, as well as OF Marlon Byrd, but if at the end of the season they have lost Rolen and Robert Person, where are they going to be when their stadium is built? This is a team with some good, very likeable players, but if I were a Phillies fan, I'd be asking why management doesn't want me to love this team.

Q: What do you think about the Seattle Mariners putting together a trade of David Bell, John Halama and possibly a prospect for Jeff Conine? -- Anders Dahl, Seattle, Wash.
PWG -- Right now, Ruben Sierra and Mark McLemore will play left. I like Conine for that team, but the Orioles still probably wouldn't trade him. Orioles owner Peter Angelos someday has to figure out that some of the people he ran out of town created part of the void that has taken the Orioles from a proud franchise to a .500 hopeful.

Q: Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said the Houston Astros will contend this season. Do you think they will, or do you think the Cubs and Cardinals overtook them this offseason? What else can the Astros do this offseason to improve their team? -- Matt Williams, Corpus Christi, Texas
PWG -- Until midseason, there is no money for Hunsicker to utilize. If Wade Miller, Roy Oswalt, Tim Redding and Carlos Hernandez produce three rising star starters and Billy Wagner is healthy, they can contend, especially if Richard Hidalgo and rookie third baseman Morgan Ensberg come through big. Don't bet against Ensberg.

Q: I'm as anti-Dan Duquette as any rational human being is, but I have to say I like some of Boston's moves this winter. The Red Sox actually got a fast guy (Johnny Damon) and a pitcher under 30 (Dustin Hermanson). And if they sign Pokey Reese, they will have a Gold Glove infielder. Are they really better? -- Brian, Amsterdam, Netherlands
PWG -- The question on Damon at $7.5 million per is whether he isn't, as the majority of GMs suspect, "a Kansas City player." He's had only two seasons in which he has an on-base percentage as high as .340. Now, he is a better defender than some realize, and a good, daring baserunner and a very good person. Pokey's OPS has gone from .747 to a pitiful .627 in three seasons. For his defense, I'd rather see them trade for a Jason Romano to play at $200,000 than spend $4 million on a guy who might be Rey Ordonez.